SCHENK.
Cornelius Schenk was one of the early merchants of Charlottesville.
Coming to the place soon after the Revolutionary
War, he carried on the business of general merchandising in
partnership with Peter Lott, until the death of Lott in 1803.
He was also a partner with Isaac Miller and Daniel Culp in
other enterprises, particularly in establishing a tannery in
the southern part of the town, which in later years was owned
by John Pollock. He first lived not far from Ira Garrett's
old home, but in 1792 bought the lots just west of the Episcopal
Church, and there resided until his death in 1810. He
purchased from the Woodsons the land north and northwest
of the town, and from the fact that a tributary of Meadow
Creek flowed through it, arose the name of Schenk's Branch,
which remains to this day. For many years he was active
in performing useful public services in town and county, but
for some reason he declined in standing and influence, pecuniary
troubles overtook him, and all his property was sold
to clear off the liens with which it was encumbered.
His wife was Rebecca Winston, of Hanover, who survived
him a little more than a year, and his children Peter Lott,
Eleanor Winston, Mary, John W., and Richard F. Dr. Frank
Carr, whose mother was a Winston, became the guardian of
the younger children. Peter Lott lived on the northwest corner
of Market and Fourth Streets, and owned the square on
which the house stood; and though he died in 1815, his
interest in the property was not finally disposed of, till commissioners
appointed by Court conveyed it to Dr. Hardin
Massie and John Cochran in 1828. The other members of
the family removed from the county, and all trace of them
seems lost to the memory of the oldest inhabitants.
